Equipment for surface processing of plate-shaped elements

ABSTRACT

Equipment ( 300 ) for the surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies ( 101 ), in particular of tiles, said equipment ( 300 ) comprising support and feeding means ( 100 ) for supporting said plate-shaped bodies ( 101 ) and feeding said plate-shaped bodies ( 101 ) along a given feed direction (D), so that during the movement along said given direction (D) the surface of each said plate-shaped body ( 101 ) that shall be sanded can be visible and accessed, said equipment ( 300 ) including a sanding module ( 200 ) provided with sanding means defining a sanding abrasive surface and with moving means for moving said abrasive surface in contact with the visible surface of said plate-shaped bodies ( 101 ) in succession during the movement thereof; wherein said sanding means comprise a closed belt ( 201 ) that defines said sanding abrasive surface and is suitable to be driven into rotation by means of said moving means.

The present invention relates to the field of surface processing ofplate-shaped elements. In particular, the present invention relates toan innovative equipment for surface processing plate-shaped elements. Indetail, the present invention relates to an equipment for surfaceprocessing plate-shaped elements, especially for sanding plate-shapedelements like tiles, plates or the like.

PRIOR ART

Equipment are known and widely used for the “industrial” sanding oftiles made of different materials, such as ceramic, marble, cement orthe like, as well as of plates made of stone, metal or other material,wherein “industrial sanding” means, in the present invention, thesanding performed to uniform the tiles surface quality at the end of theproduction cycle and therefore before laying.

The solutions that are more performing and more commonly used providefor the use of a plurality of sanding modules arranged in successionabove a conveyor belt that supports the tiles or plates and moves themalong a given direction. Each module comprises a head rotating around arotation axis that is substantially vertical (perpendicular with respectto the surface of the tiles or plates to be sanded that are arranged onthe conveyor belt in substantially horizontal position); the rotatinghead is equipped with a plurality of fickerts or fickert heads, and therotation of the head results in a sanding action exerted on the tile orplates by the abrasive surface of each fickert head, wherein eachfickert head, during the rotation of the head, is made pivot as apendulum around a pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of thehead.

Each module and/or rotating head can be translated both vertically(perpendicularly to the tiles), in order to adjust the pressure exertedby the fickert heads on the plates, and transversally with respect tothe conveyor belt, the transverse movement of the module or head beingcalled “traverse”.

The fickert heads of the various rotating heads arranged in successionalong the conveyor belt are characterized by abrasive surfaces ofdifferent abrasive degree; in detail the abrasive degree is greater forthe first heads acting on the tiles and decreases more and more for thefollowing heads, up to the last heads.

The equipment of this type are provided with a hydraulic system forcooling the abrasives and keeping the conveyor belt clean during thework. Moreover, the vertical movement of the rotating heads is providedby means of pneumatic cylinders.

The prior art equipment described above, even if appreciable from manyviewpoints, have however some drawbacks and/or disadvantages.

A first disadvantage is the length of the traditional sanding lines,that are too long to achieve speeds allowing a satisfactory industrialproductivity.

A further disadvantage is that a significant amount of water is requiredduring machining in order to lubricate and cool the tools, equal toapproximately 80/100 l/min. for each fickert head, which is veryexpensive. Moreover, the use of water requires significant investmentsfor water purification systems that shall manage flow, deposit andseparation of sludge.

It should be also noted that the tools have an average life of two hoursand it is necessary to stop the whole line to replace a single head.

Moreover, the traverse width and speed shall be adjusted according tothe width of the plates, and this processing requirement results inhigher costs for producing the machine for larger formats as well as inmechanical limits that can be difficult to deal with.

Moreover, the whole process is based on the operative force of thefickert heads, that are very heavy (more than approximately 80 kg each)and numerous, and cause therefore a significant power consumption and asignificant wear of the mechanical components thereof.

Lastly, in order to manage so complex and long equipment and lines, ahigh number of operators is required, as well as a high number of tools;not only the number of tools varies based on the quality of the singleoperator's work, but the use of a high number of tools result in a largeamount of production waste when using these prior art equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an equipment allowingto overcome or at least minimize the problems of the prior art equipmentdescribed above.

In particular, an object of the invention is to provide an equipmentallowing the natural cooling of the abrasive, thus making the waterlubrication unnecessary, with significant savings as regards both thenecessary systems and the power consumption.

A further object of the invention is to ensure the processing of all thesurfaces of all the predefined formats of tiles; in this way, there isno more need for the traverse bridge and you have no longer all theprior art inconveniences due machine stops, abrasive replacement andformat change.

The equipment according to the invention also allows to limit theoverall bulk, that is preferably equal to the half of the usual bulk ofa prior art equipment, ensures production continuity also duringabrasive replacement, and ensures the abrasive tools a life 4-timesgreater than that of the traditional tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide an equipment offeringmaximum guarantees as regards safety, in particular during maintenanceoperations, and/or the possibility of replacing the tools when theequipment is still working, with significant savings in terms of timeand costs.

Moreover, the equipment according to the invention has limited weight(with respect to the weight of the prior art equipment) and can betherefore easily installed anywhere in a plant, without the need forbrick works and the like.

In view of the drawbacks of the prior art devices described above, andof the objects of the invention listed above, the present inventiontherefore provides for an equipment for the surface sanding ofplate-shaped elements, in particular of tiles, said equipment comprisingsupport and feeding means for supporting said plate-shaped elements andfeeding them along a given feed direction, so that, during the movementalong said given direction, the surface of each plate-shaped element tobe sanded can be visible and accessed, the equipment including a sandingmodule provided with sanding means that define a sanding abrasivesurface and with moving means that move said abrasive surface intocontact with the visible surface of the plate-shaped elements insuccession during the forward movement thereof; the sanding meanscomprise a closed belt that defines the sanding abrasive surface and issuitable to be driven into rotation by means of the moving means.

According to an embodiment, the closed belt extends along a directionother than the feed direction of the plate-shaped elements.

According to an embodiment, the closed belt can be oriented, withrespect to the feed direction of the plate-shaped elements, at willbetween two end positions where it extends along two differentdirections, respectively a transverse direction and an oblique directionwith respect to the feed direction of the plate-shaped elements.

According to an embodiment, the closed belt extends between two oppositepulleys, whose rotation axes are parallel to each other and orientablewith respect to the feed direction of the plate-shaped elements.

According to an embodiment, a first pulley of the two pulleys is driveninto rotation by means of the moving means, while the second pulley ofthe two pulleys is driven into rotation by means of the closed belt.

According to an embodiments, the moving means comprise a power sourceand transmission means interposed between the power source and the firstpulley.

According to an embodiment, the transmission means comprise a thirdpulley rigidly fixed to the first pulley through a drive shaft and adrive belt interposed between the power source and the third pulley.

According to an embodiment, adjusting means are provided for regulatingthe tension of the closed belt.

According to an embodiment, the adjusting means are so shaped as toallow the regulation of the centre-to-centre distance between the firstpulley and the second pulley.

According to an embodiment, adjusting means are also provided forregulating the contact pressure of the sanding abrasive surface againstthe visible and accessible surface of the plate-shaped elements.

According to an embodiment, said adjusting means comprise at least onepressing element suitable to exert an adjustable pressure against theinner surface of the closed belt opposite to the sanding abrasivesurface.

According to an embodiment, the equipment comprises a plurality ofmodules arranged in succession along the feed direction of theplate-shaped elements.

Any further embodiments of the equipment according to the invention aredefined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be better explained in the following description ofthe embodiments illustrated in the drawing. However, it should bespecified that the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed below and illustrated in the drawing; contrariwise, allvariants and modifications of the embodiments described and illustratedin this document that are clearly apparent to those skilled in the artfall within the scope of the invention.

Moreover, as the invention can be advantageously applied in particularto the sanding of tiles, in the description below reference will be madeto the possible applications and the use methods for sanding tiles,being however understood that the possible advantageous applications ofthe invention are not limited to the field of tiles, but comprise thesurface processing of any plate-shaped element.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view from the top of an equipment according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view from the top of a sanding module of an equipmentaccording to an embodiment of the invention from a point of viewopposite to that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a sanding module of an equipmentaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a sanding module of an equipmentaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of FIG. 3, in enlarged scaleand with some parts removed for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIG. 1, the reference numbers 100 and 200 respectively indicate aconveyor belt and a sanding module of an equipment 300 according to afirst embodiment of the invention.

Through the conveyor belt 100, known and therefore not described indetail for the sake of conciseness, plate-shaped bodies 101, like tilesor the like, are supported and moved, in particular moved forwards at apredefined speed that can be adjusted according to the needs and/orcircumstances, in particular according to the desired sanding degree,along a feed direction D indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, wherein thebodies 101, during their forward movement along the direction D, arearranged on the conveyor belt 100 so that the surface to be processed(to be treated, in particular to be sanded) can be visible and accessed.

Along the conveyor belt 100, in particular above it, a sanding module200 is arranged, suitable to sand the visible surface of eachplate-shaped body 101 according to the methods explained in more detailbelow. It should be specified that the sanding module 200 comprises arotating sanding belt 201, extending along a direction X transversal andoblique with respect to the feed direction D of the bodies 101; the belt201 has externally a sanding abrasive surface 214′, that will be betterdescribed below, and it is therefore clearly apparent that each body 101moving forward in the indicated direction through the conveyor belt 100has a visible surface 1010 facing the belt 201, so that each surface1010 is touched by the abrasive surface 214′ of the rotating belt 201,wherein, according to the invention, also the rotation speed of the belt201 can be adjusted according to the needs and/or circumstances. Withparticular reference to FIG. 3, the belt 201 has a substantiallyhorizontal operative branch 2010 arranged at the bottom between thepulleys 204 and 205, and a substantially horizontal idle branch 2011facing at the top the branch 2010.

Moreover, the module 200 can be oriented with respect to the conveyorbelt 100, in particular so as to allow the orientation of the sandingbelt 201 between two end portions where the belt extends (according tothe plan view from the top of FIG. 1) along the transverse and obliquedirection X (FIG. 1) and respectively along a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the feed direction of the bodies 101.

The length of the belt 201, in particular the extension thereof in theplane (see the description below), is greater than the width of theconveyor belt 100, thus allowing the surface processing (sanding) ofplate-shaped elements 101 of any length and whose width is substantiallyequal to, or slightly greater than, the width of the conveyor belt 100.

Here below, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, further characteristicsand/or features of the equipment 300 according to the invention will bedescribed and explained, in particular characteristics and features ofthe sanding module 200, wherein in FIGS. 2 to 4, components and/orfeatures of the sanding module 200 already described with reference toother figures are identified by the same reference numbers, and wherein,in FIGS. 2 to 4, the conveyor belt 100 is not shown for the sake ofclarity.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the module 200 from a point of view arrangedupstream of the module 200 with respect to the feed direction of thebodies 101 (at the top with reference to FIG. 1); FIG. 4 shows a sideview of the module 200 from a point of view arranged downstream of themodule 200 with respect to the feed direction of the bodies 101 (at thebottom with reference to FIG. 1).

As shown in the figures, the module 200 comprises a support main frame210 and support means 211, through which the frame 210 (and thereforethe whole module 200) may be positioned (in particular hung) above theconveyor belt 100. A first rotation axle 208 and a second rotation axleor shaft 209 extend through the frame 210, means for facilitating therotation of the axles 208 and 209 (such as bearings or the like, notshown in the figures) being interposed, if necessary, between each axle208 and 209 and the respective housing seat provided in the frame 210. Apulley 204 and a pulley 205 are respectively engaged on the end portionsof the axles 208 and 209 projecting from the frame 210 on a first sideof the frame 210 (at the top with reference to FIG. 2). The belt 201(FIG. 3) extends between the pulleys 204 and 205 so as to form a closedbelt, in particular so as to define two flat, parallel and oppositeportions, joined by means of two curved portions respectively engagingthe two pulleys 204 and 205. In particular, the belt 201 comprises aflexible main portion (layer) 213, on which a plurality of fickert heads214 are applied, defining an annular sanding abrasive surface 214′.

As mentioned above, the module 200 is arranged on the conveyor belt 100so that the visible surface 1010 of the bodies 101 is touched by thesubstantially linear portion of the belt 201 adjacent to the conveyorbelt 100 and therefore by the abrasive heads 214 carried by the samebelt 201. Each abrasive test 214 is applied to the belt 201 through theinterposition of a base 2140 carrying abrasive bodies 2142. Each base2140 is made of a material that is elastically deformable underpressure, in order to allow the respective abrasive bodies 2142 to movetransversally to the direction X and to the direction D in order tooptimize the interaction with the plate-shaped bodies 101 movingforwards.

A third pulley 206 is engaged on the end portion of the axle 209projecting from the frame 210 on the second side of the frame 210(opposite to the first side and therefore at the bottom with referenceto FIG. 2); the module 200 also comprises a power source 202, forexample, although without limitation, an electric motor, with a rotationshaft on which a pinion 207 is engaged, arranged, with respect to themain frame 210, on the same side as the third pulley 206. A drive belt203 extends between the pulley 206 and the pinion 207, and it istherefore clearly apparent that the starting of the motor 202 (forexample supplying electricity, in the case of an electric motor) resultsin the rotation of the pinion 207, and therefore in the rotation of thethird pulley 206 through the drive belt 203, as well as in the rotationof the pulley 205 (as the pulleys 206 and 205 are engaged on oppositeends of the same axle or shaft 209), and in the rotation of the belt 201and of the pulley 204, drawn by the belt 201.

It should be specified that the module 200 also comprises adjustingmembers 212 interposed between the axles 208 and 209, these adjustingmembers 212 being especially suitable to regulate the center-to-centerdistance of the axles 208 and 209, and therefore the tension of the belt201. In the specific case illustrated in FIG. 4, the adjusting members212 are suitable to regulate the position of the axle 208; the adjustingmembers are known in se and therefore they will not described in greaterdetail below for the sake of conciseness, wherein equivalent adjustingmeans (not shown) can be also provided in the present invention in orderto regulate the tension of the drive belt 203.

FIG. 3 shows an appreciable (optional) feature of the sanding moduleaccording to the present invention. In particular, in FIG. 3, betweenthe pulleys 204 and 205 and in the inner space defined by the belt 201between the branches 2010 and 2012, the frame 210 carries a bracket 211and this bracket carries, in turn, an adjusting unit 215 suitable toregulate precisely the contact pressure of the branch 2010 of the belt201 on the bodies 101 that are supported and moved by the conveyor belt100. The adjusting unit 215 comprises a plurality of pressing elements216 arranged in succession between the pulleys 204 and 205 along apredefined portion of the linear segment of the belt 201 and carriedmovable transversally to the direction X and to the branches 2010 and2012 of the belt 201. In particular, each pressing element 216 issubstantially parallelepiped-shaped and the bracket 211 carries aguiding member for guiding the rectilinear movement of each pressingmember 216, the guiding member being constituted by a rod 2111 engagingthe corresponding pressing element 216 transversally. For the sake ofpracticality, in FIG. 5 only one rod 2111 has been shown, incorrespondence of a first actuator 217 arranged at the side of thepulley 205. Moreover, the bracket 211 carries a linear actuator 217 foreach pressing element 216, wherein the stem 2170 of each actuator 217 isparallel to the respective rod 2111. Moreover, with reference to FIG. 5again, each pressing element 216 carries, at the bottom, a roller 2160that is oriented transversally to the direction X and is provided with aplurality of round nips 2162 arranged longitudinally stepped. Withreference to FIG. 5 again, the belt 201 has an inner face 2014 providedwith a plurality of reliefs 2015, configured to engage the nips 2162 ina conjugated manner in order to define a guiding device 2016 for guidingthe branch 2010 of the belt 201. It is easily understood that thepressure exerted, in use, by the pressing elements 216 on the belt 201,and therefore the pressure the abrasive surface 214′/the belt 201 exertson the bodies 101, depends on the pressure exchanged between the reliefs2015 and the nips 2162, and therefore on the pressure exerted by theactuators 217 on the pressing elements 216.

In particular, although without limiting the scope of the invention, incase the actuators 217 are of the pneumatic type, a compressor 2172 canbe provided (shown only in FIGS. 2 and 4 for the sake of drawingeconomy), that can be powered through the same power source 202 and isconfigured to actuate each actuator 217 singularly. The module 200 alsocomprises a control device 2174 (FIG. 2) carried by the frame 210 andconnected to the compressor 2172 to control the actuators 217singularly. In view of the above description it is clearly apparentthat, in use, the pressure exerted by each actuator 217 can be adjustedindividually, increasing or decreasing, in real time, the pressuredistribution on the plate-shaped bodies 101 moving along the drawingdirection of the belt 201, associating sensors 102 with the conveyorbelt 100, the sensors being electronically coupled to the control device2174 (the electronic connection between the mentioned components is notshown for the sake of drawing economy), wherein the sensors 102 areable, in use, to detect in real time the point-to-point surfaceconformation of the bodies 101 fed to the module 200 through theconveyor belt 100.

As it is clearly apparent and proved from the description above of theembodiments shown in the figures, the present invention allows toachieve the above mentioned objects and purposes. In particular, theequipment according to the invention has reduced bulk, in particular thesanding module is actually compact and not bulky, allows to avoid theuse of cooling water (as the belt is cooled in a natural way) andtherefore the need for disposal and/or purification systems, avoids theneed for traverse (wherein the belt extends along at least the wholelength of the conveyor belt), thus allowing to limit the productioncosts; moreover, the sanding module is suitable to be installed onexisting conveyor belts without significant modifications thereof,allows a significant reduction of power consumption and the mechanicalcomponents thereof have limited wear.

Lastly, the equipment management is simple, and requires a reducednumber of operators; the same applies to maintenance, both ordinary andextraordinary, allowing at the same time a significant reduction inprocess waste.

It should be specified that the description above and the attachedfigures relate only to an embodiment of the invention; it should behowever specified that the description above does not limit the possibleembodiments of the invention falling within the scope thereof.

For example, as mentioned, both the feeding speed of the bodies 101 andthe speed of the belt 201 can be adjusted at will. Moreover, as regardsthe methods of use of the equipment, the stop of the conveyor belt 100can be provided when the body 101 to be sanded is arranged incorrespondence of the module 200.

It should be also specified that the sanding module 200, together withthe sensors 102, can be used in a sanding line to adjust the regulationthereof, for example by detecting defects of the plate-shaped bodies 101fed along the direction D for post-processing activities, useful toasses the actual surface finishing of the plate-shaped bodies 101, aswell as to give the plate-shaped bodies 101 surfaces 1010 that complywith the project specifications. Moreover, according to the presentinvention, more modules 200 can be provided in succession along theconveyor belt 100, the number thereof can vary according to the needsand/or circumstances, and they can be directed differently with respectto the feed direction of the plate-shaped bodies 101.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

1. Equipment (300) for the surface sanding of plate-shaped bodies (101),in particular of tiles, said equipment (300) comprising support andfeeding means (100) for supporting said plate-shaped bodies (101) andfeeding said plate-shaped bodies (101) along a given feed direction (D),so that during the movement along said given direction the surface ofeach said plate-shaped body (101) that shall be sanded can be visibleand accessed, said equipment (300) including a sanding module (200)provided with sanding means (201) defining a sanding abrasive surface(214′) and with moving means (202) for moving said abrasive surface incontact with the visible surface of said plate-shaped bodies (101) insuccession during the movement thereof along said given feed direction(D); wherein said sanding means comprise a closed belt (201) thatdevelops along a path comprising at least one rectilinear portion thatdefines said sanding abrasive surface (214′) and is suitable to bedriven into rotation by means of said moving means (202), characterizedby comprising adjusting means (215) for regulating the contact pressureof said sanding abrasive surface (214′) against said visible andaccessible surface of said plate-shaped bodies (101), and in that saidadjusting means (215) comprise a plurality of pressing elements (216)arranged in succession along said rectilinear portion of said belt(201), each of said pressing elements being carried movabletransversally with respect to the surface of each said plate-shaped body(101) that shall be sanded, each of said pressing elements (216) beingthus suitable to exert an adjustable pressure against a respectiveportion of the inner surface of said closed belt (201) opposite to saidsanding abrasive surface (214′), and therefore in that the pressure onsaid bodies (101) exerted by the portion of said belt (201) urged byeach of said pressing elements (216) against said belt (201) can beregulated according to the needs and/or circumstances.
 2. The equipment(300) according to claim 1, characterized in that said closed belt (201)extends along a direction (X) other than said feed direction (D) of saidplate-shaped bodies (101).
 3. The equipment (300) according to claim 1,characterized in that said closed belt (201) can be oriented at willwith respect to said feed direction (D) of said plate-shaped bodies(101) between two end positions where it extends along two differentdirections, respectively a transverse direction and an oblique directionwith respect to said feed direction (D) of said plate-shaped bodies(101).
 4. The equipment (300) according to claim 1, characterized inthat said closed belt (201) extends between two opposite pulleys (204,205) with rotation axes parallel to each other and orientable withrespect to said feed direction (D) of said plate-shaped bodies (101). 5.The equipment (300) according to claim 4, characterized in that a firstpulley (205) of said two pulleys (204, 205) is driven into rotation bymeans of said moving means (202), while the second pulley (204) of saidtwo pulleys (204, 205) is driven into rotation by means of said closedbelt (201).
 6. The equipment (300) according to claim 5, characterizedin that said moving means (202) comprise a power source (202) andtransmission means (203) interposed between said power source (202) andsaid first pulley (205).
 7. The equipment (300) according to claim 6,characterized in that said transmission means comprise a third pulley(206) rigidly fixed to said first pulley (205) by means of a drive shaftor axle (209) and a drive belt (203) interposed between said powersource (202) and said third pulley (206).
 8. The equipment (300)according to claim 1, characterized by comprising adjusting means (212)for regulating the tension of said closed belt (201).
 9. The equipment(300) according to claim 8, characterized in that said adjusting means(212) are so shaped as to allow the regulation of the centre-to-centredistance between said first pulley (205) and said second pulley (204).10. The equipment (300) according to claim 1, characterized bycomprising adjusting means (215) for regulating the contact pressure ofsaid sanding abrasive surface (214′) against said visible and accessiblesurface of said plate-shaped bodies (101).
 11. The equipment (300)according to claim 10, characterized in that said adjusting means (215)comprise at least one pressing element (216) suitable to exert anadjustable pressure against the inner surface of said closed belt (201)opposite to said sanding abrasive surface (214′).
 12. The equipment(300) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a plurality ofsaid modules (200) arranged in succession along said feed direction (D)of said plate-shaped bodies (101).